The trial of Duane 'Keffe D' Davis, accused of involvement in the murder of Tupac Shakur, erupted in chaos on its second day when a witness delivered combative testimony. The proceedings are taking place in Las Vegas, where Davis, 63, faces charges of murder with a deadly weapon with the intent to promote, further, or assist a criminal gang. He has denied the allegations.
Witness's Heated Exchange with Attorneys
James 'Mob James' McDonald, an associate of Marion 'Suge' Knight who worked in security at Club 662 on the night of the shooting, became agitated during his court appearance. McDonald, a former member of the rival Blood street gang offshoot Mob Piru and an enforcer at Knight's Death Row Records label, insisted he was not with Shakur when the shooting occurred.
McDonald claimed he was threatened with contempt of court if he did not testify. When prosecutors repeatedly asked who was responsible for Shakur's death, he pointed at Davis and said: 'You're asking me something that wouldn't be good for him.' He added: 'I don't want to send you to prison.'
Refusal to Answer Questions
McDonald hesitated to answer several questions, saying it 'wouldn't be good' for Davis. At one point, he looked at the former gang boss and said: 'Talk to your lawyer man, this dude is tripping.' He continued: 'I don't want to send him to prison, even though we don't like each other. I don't want to send you to prison.'
He then told the defense attorney: 'You ask me something I don't wanna talk about, you're gonna have a problem. Treat me as a hostile witness. You're not gonna talk to me and tell me as a grown man what I have to do up here. I'm not gonna send him to prison, you are.'
Background and Charges
Prosecutors allege that Davis, though not the gunman, was a ringleader in the group responsible for the shooting. On July 18, 2023, Las Vegas police searched Davis's home in connection with the case. He was arrested on September 29 and charged with murder that same month. If convicted, he faces life imprisonment without parole. Davis maintains he was not in Nevada on the night of the murder.
Shakur, also known as 2Pac, was 25 when he was fatally shot on September 7, 1996, while waiting at a red light. He died from his injuries on September 13. He had attended the Bruce Seldon vs Mike Tyson boxing match with Suge Knight at the MGM Grand. Later, while in a convoy in a black BMW sedan, a white Cadillac pulled up and opened fire, striking Shakur four times. The trial is expected to last four to six weeks.
